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New Employee Orientation

Welcome, something clearly stood out about you and we knew you were a good fit for our diverse and dynamic workforce. Our OCERS Mission, Vision, and Values are what we uphold daily to procure an environment that allows for each of us to contribute to the highest standard of excellence. This booklet is intended to familiarize you with OCERS essentials. We are so glad to have you on our team.

Welcome• Our OCERS History• What we do here • Who is Who• What you need to know• One team serving all• Our OCERS Business Plan• Our OCERS Culture

Established January 1, 1945For 75 years, the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) has been providing retirement, death, disability, and cost-of-living benefits to employees of the County and certain districts. During that time, OCERS’ membership has increased from less than 1,000 members in 1945 to more than 28,000 active and deferred members and more than 18,000 payees (retired members and beneficiaries) as of 2021.The County Employees Retirement Law of 1937The County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 - better known as the ‘37 Act or CERL – is a body of law enacted to govern retirement benefits for certain public employees. OCERS is one of 20 counties in California subject to the provisions of the ‘37 Act.This proposition was approved by a majority of voters at the November 7, 1944 General Election, and as a result, OCERS was officially established on January 1, 1945.Upon OCERS’ creation, a Retirement Board consisting of five members (the County Treasurer, two active elected members, and two qualified electors of the County) was established to govern the plan. Today OCERS is administered by a ten-member Retirement Board.

Relationship to the County of OrangeFrom its early beginnings, OCERS has worked to define its changing relationship with Orange County. The Retirement System employees were considered part of the County Treasurer’s Office from 1945 until 1973, when provisions were added to the Government Code to charge administrative costs for the Retirement System to the Retirement System’s earnings. Employees of the Retirement Office continued to be considered Treasurer’s Office employees, however, until February 1, 1989, when the Retirement System was established as a department separate from the Treasurer’s Office. Since that time, the Administrator has reported only to the Retirement Board.The next step was for OCERS to work toward complete separation from Orange County. The stage was set for this separation in 1992 when the California Pension Protection Act (Proposition 162) was passed. This act established that the Retirement Board has “plenary authority”. Complete separation was finally declared by a Retirement Board Resolution in February 1995. In addition, the passage of AB1992 on June 27, 2002 made OCERS an independent district.

Today, OCERS is administered by a ten-member Retirement Board.•Four are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors•Four (including the safety alternate) are elected by OCERS' active members •One is elected by the retired membership•One serves as an ex-officio member